A Bid for Geopolitical Parity

Delegations from Imo and Anambra states descended upon Abuja this week, marking a pivotal escalation in the campaign to establish Anim State—a proposal that has become the focal point of the ongoing constitutional review. The move represents a coordinated effort by South-East stakeholders to rectify what they describe as a long-standing structural imbalance that has left the region with only five states, while other geopolitical zones possess six or seven.

The creation of Anim State is not merely a local border dispute it is a fundamental challenge to Nigerias federal architecture. As the country grapples with the pressures of economic austerity and demands for improved governance, the legislative push for this new administrative entity brings to the fore the tension between equitable representation and the ballooning cost of governance in Africa`s most populous nation.

The Argument for Balance

For decades, political leaders in the South-East have lamented the zone`s status as the only region with five states, citing it as evidence of marginalization in resource allocation, legislative representation, and federal appointments. Proponents argue that an additional state—carved from parts of Anambra and Imo—would serve as a necessary tool for localized development, bringing government infrastructure closer to historically neglected communities.

• Geopolitical Disparity: The South-East has 5 states, compared to 6 in the South-West, South-South, North-Central, and North-East, and 7 in the North-West.
• Proposed Capital: Stakeholders have identified Orlu as a potential capital, citing ongoing rehabilitation of local infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, and universities.
• Legislative Status: The proposal is currently undergoing formal review by the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

During meetings with the House Committee, advocates highlighted the progress made in Orlu, characterizing it as a city already primed for statehood. According to Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, the proposal has secured broad endorsement from local government chairs, traditional institutions, and community leaders, positioning it as a unified regional priority rather than a divisive partisan project.

The Constitutional Hurdles

Despite the optimism within the South-East, the path to creating a new state is fraught with legal complexity. The 1999 Constitution establishes a rigorous process designed to prevent impulsive border changes. Success requires the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly—the Senate and the House of Representatives—followed by a two-thirds majority endorsement from the state Houses of Assembly across the federation. Finally, a referendum must be held in the affected areas.

This arduous process explains why no new state has been successfully created in Nigeria since the transition to democratic rule in 1999. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has publicly cautioned that the campaign must transcend regional rhetoric. Success, he noted, will not be won through grievances alone but through strategic bridge-building with colleagues in the North, South-West, and South-South, whose votes remain essential for the required legislative threshold.

Lessons from the Kenyan Experience

For observers in East Africa, the Nigerian debate echoes the long-standing discourse surrounding devolution. Kenya, following the 2010 Constitution, adopted a system of 47 fixed counties, a move that decentralized power and resources but also introduced new administrative costs. Unlike Nigeria, which debates the addition of states—and thus, potentially, more federal allocation recipients—Kenya moved toward a system that fixed administrative units, emphasizing service delivery over the creation of new political layers.

Economists have long warned that multiplying states can exacerbate fiscal instability. With Nigeria currently allocating a significant portion of its budget to recurrent expenditure, critics fear that the creation of Anim State could lead to a duplication of bureaucracy, more governors, and additional administrative overheads without a corresponding increase in productivity. The central question remains: will a new state actually improve the lives of the residents in Orlu, or will it simply create new rungs in a political ladder?

The Road Ahead

The legislative clock is ticking. As the constitutional review committee continues its work, the fate of Anim State will likely serve as a barometer for Nigeria`s political maturity. Whether the proposal achieves the consensus required to alter the map of Nigeria will depend on the ability of the South-East to convince a skeptical national assembly that this is a move toward efficiency and justice, rather than a self-serving expansion of political patronage. The coming months will determine if the dream of Anim State moves from the committee rooms of Abuja to reality, or if it remains another footnote in the history of Nigeria’s complex federal evolution.